April 13, 1873: 60 African Americans are killed in the Colfax Massacre


With the conclusion of the Civil War, the question on what to do with the newly freed blacks was at the forefront of the national consciousness. In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, forever freeing slaves in the United States. The subsequent 14th and 15th Amendments were later ratified, providing African Americans with voting and civil rights. However, as Reconstruction progressed in the South, Americans increasingly grew tired of the issue of black civil rights. By the 1870’s, white Democrats has regained some their lost power.

In the wake of the Louisiana gubernatorial election of 1873, a group of white Democrats attacked the courthouse in Colfax. Inside were many newly enfranchised black votes unsuspectingly casting their votes for the first time. The whites surrounded the court as if to besiege it. All the African Americans surrendered to the crowd. As they emerged from the courthouse, the whites gunned them down. In all, it is estimated that the Colfax massacre resulted in the deaths of at least 60 to maybe 153 African Americans. The Colfax Massacre is considered the worst incident of racial violence throughout the entirety of the Reconstruction Era.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 25, 1306: Robert the Bruce is crowned King of Scots

Image
Robert the Bruce was born in Turnberry Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland on June 7, 1274. He came from a long line of claimants to the Scottish throne, being a descendant of King David I. During his childhood, he was educated in history, civics and languages. He learned a variety of local dialects, French and Latin. Robert's early life was typical of a 13th century European noble. However his young life would soon be thrown upside down with the arrival of the English in Scotland. In 1286, King Alexander III died, his crown passed to a child named Margaret, the Maid of Norway. Due to Margaret's youth, the Scottish nobles assigned Guardians of Scotland to serve as regents until she would come of age. Then in 1290, Margaret died. This created a crisis between the five remaining claimants to the throne: John Balliol, John Hastings, Floris V, Count of Holland, and Robert. The Guardians feared a civil war, so they asked Edward I, King of England to mediate the situation. The King deci
Read more

May 7, 1763: Ottawa leader Pontiac captures Fort Detroit from the British, sparking Pontiac's War

Image
Pontiac was born between 1712 and 1725 in an Ottawa village on the bank of the Detroit River. Little is known about his early life. By 1747, he became a war leader among the Ottawa tribe. Pontiac and his tribe were key French allies during the French and Indian War. After their victory in the war, the British claimed much of the territory formerly held by the French. The Ottawa and several other tribes greatly resented their new British overlords. On April 27, 1763, Pontiac held a council with representatives of neighboring tribes. He asked them join him in attacking the British held Ford Detroit. On May 7, his small band of tribesmen laid siege to the fort. News of the siege quickly spread, bringing over nine hundred native warriors to his cause. The Fort finally capitulated later that day. Over the following weeks, Pontiac would capture over a dozen forts in the surrounding area.
Read more

May 2, 1863: Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to camp after reconnoitering during the Battle of Chancellorsville

Image
Throughout 1863, Robert E. Lee fought back against the Union advance toward Richmond. The Peninsula Campaign, was Union General George B. McClellan’s attempt to seize the Confederate capital of Richmond. Confederate President Jefferson Davis promoted his military advisor, Robert E. Lee to take command of the army and push back McClellan. Lee was able to push back McClellan at the Battle of Seven Pines; however, the battle would prove not only to be a watershed moment for Lee but also for another of his generals. During the battle, troops under the command of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson led the charge against the Union soldiers. Jackson cut a very interesting figure. He was an uncompromising hypochondriac. He would suck lemons in the heat of battle, and keep one arm lifted because he felt it kept “the blood balanced.” However even with all of quirks, he was a brilliant tactician, with an utter disregard for the lives of his soldiers. But his soldiers loved him because he brought them
Read more